Resources for Families with Special Needs
If you have a family member with special needs or a serious illness or injury, you may not know where to turn for help. However, many resources are available to you and your family. Here's a quick list to get you started.
Military HOMEFRONT
Military HOMEFRONT includes a wealth of information for military families and for those with special needs. The site includes consolidated information about each service branch's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). EFMP enrollment is required so that the uniformed services may identify family members with special medical needs, document the services they require and consider those needs when making personnel assignments. As part of the EFMP Toolkit, you can download any of the following resources:
- EFMP Family Support Resource Guide
- Department of Defense Special Needs Parent Toolkit
- Special Care Organization Record for Children, Adults or Eldercare
Military OneSource
Whether it's help with child care, emotional support during deployments, relocation information or resources, Military OneSource is there for military personnel and their families... 24/7/365! The service is available by phone, online and face-to-face through private counseling sessions in the local community. Military OneSource provides personalized consultations on such issues as education, special needs and finances. The service also offers you customized research on community resources and appropriate military referrals. Military OneSource has a variety of special needs tip sheets, booklets, CDs and other materials.
Call Military OneSource today:
- Stateside (CONUS): 1-800-342-9647
- Overseas (OCONUS): 1-800-3429-6477
- Collect from Overseas (OCONUS): 1-484-530-5908
- En español llame al: 1-877-888-0727
- TTY/TDD: 1-800-346-9188
- Korea DSN: 550-ARMY (2769)
Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)
STOMP is a federally funded Parent Training and Information Center that assists military families who have children with special education or health needs. STOMP serves families in the following ways:
- Provides information and training about laws, regulations and resources for military families of children with disabilities
- Assists parents and professionals in developing their own community parent education/support groups
- Provides a voice to raise awareness of issues faced by military families with children who have disabilities
Visit STOMP and join their list serve to connect with other military parents with children with Autism.
DisabilityInfo.gov
This is another great, comprehensive online resource! With just a few clicks, the site provides you access to disability-related information and programs available across the government. Covered topics include benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, housing, health, technology and transportation.
Special Care Organizational Record (SCOR)
The SCOR has many uses. While caring for your child with special health needs, you may get information and paperwork from many sources. This organizational record helps you organize the most important information in a central place. The SCOR makes it easier for you to find and share key information with others who are part of your child's care team. Use your SCOR to:
- Track changes in your child's medicines or treatments
- List telephone numbers for health care providers and community organizations
- Prepare for appointments
- File information about your child's health history
- Share new information with your child's primary doctor, public health or school nurse, daycare staff and others caring for your child
You can download the SCOR from the EFMP Tookit available on the Military HOMFRONT Web site.
Last Modified:April 24, 2012
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